What is gum disease?

Gum disease, also known as periodontitis, occurs when enough plaque builds up on your teeth and gums. It irritates the tissues in our mouth and can lead to chronic inflammation, bleeding, and infection that destroys your gum and bone tissue that support your teeth. Gum disease doesn’t go away on its own, and will only worsen over time if it’s left untreated.

How is gum disease treated?

First, your dentist will clean above your gum line

Then, you’ll be brought back in for a deep cleaning called scaling and root planning

Next, you’ll want to come in every three months for one year, to make sure your gums stay healthy

After one year, your pocket depths will be reevaluated to make sure they’ve healed

I love this place. I know, weird...saying I love the dentist office. But it's super modern, with warm paint on the wall, each room has a view of the courtyard, and I even got a remote to my own TV while I was being cleaned....CRAZY!!! Kind of hard to believe I was at the dentist. It was awesome experience and I will never go to any other dental office. Dentists really need to step it up. If you want people to stop being so afraid of the dentist then you must make your environment pleasant and inviting. VDC mastered it!

Ky W. - Washington, DC

Catch gum disease before it starts

Virginia Dental Center makes gum disease prevention a part of your check-up. We’ll examine your gums to make sure they are healthy, and free of plaque buildup. Our exam involves gently measuring the depth of the spaces between your gums and teeth.

Healthy gum tissue is shallow and v-shaped between the tooth and gums. Normally, a healthy depth of a pocket is three millimeters or less. An unhealthy pocket is deeper, bleeds, and collects more plaque and bacteria.

Schedule your gum disease treatment

Take control of your oral health! Contact our office to schedule your next appointment and learn how we can get you back on track to a healthy smile today.

The Virginia Dental Center is a first class cosmetic dental practice that specializes in cosmetic dentistry and the maintenance of excellent oral health.

We pride ourselves on meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail, our friendly family environment, an uncompromising level of cleanliness, and an elite level of modern techniques and equipment that allow our patients a sophisticated level of comfort and confidence.

A new dental experience for the Clarendon, Rosslyn and Ballston areas of Arlington Virginia. Also serving Washington DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia.

Conveniently located near Clarendon Metro stop. Free parking available in our parking garage.